Surgical instrument with articulation mechanism

Abstract

A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and an articulation mechanism. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion. The articulation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector for articulating the end effector. The articulation mechanism comprises a lever, a knob, a plate and a lower clutch. The plate is disposed at least partially within a portion of the knob. The lower clutch is disposed in mechanical engagement with the plate. The plate is disposed at least partially between the lower clutch and the knob. The lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation therebetween. The lower clutch is keyed to the knob to limit rotation therebetween.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument, the articulation mechanism comprising:
 a lever rotatable about a lever axis; 
 a housing; 
 a plate disposed at least partially within a portion of the housing; and 
 a lower clutch keyed to the housing to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the housing, 
 wherein at least a portion of the plate is disposed between the lower clutch and the housing, wherein at least a portion of the lower clutch is disposed between the plate and the lever in a direction parallel to the lever axis, and wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower clutch includes a first key and a second key, the housing includes a first recess, and the plate includes a second recess. 
     
     
       3. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the first key mechanically engages the first recess to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the housing, and the second key mechanically engages the second recess to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the plate. 
     
     
       4. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 1 , further including a cover disposed in contact with the lever, a biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cover, and an upper clutch disposed in mechanical cooperation with the lower clutch and with the biasing element. 
     
     
       5. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to prevent rotation between the lower clutch and the plate in response to movement of the lever to effect articulation of an end effector of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
       6. An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument, the articulation mechanism comprising:
 a cover; 
 a lever rotatable about a lever axis; 
 a knob; 
 a lower clutch keyed to the knob to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the knob; 
 a biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cover; 
 an upper clutch disposed in mechanical cooperation with the lower clutch and in mechanical cooperation with the biasing element; and 
 a plate movable with respect to the upper clutch, a portion of the plate disposed between the knob and the lower clutch, 
 wherein rotation of the knob with respect to an elongated portion of the surgical instrument causes an end effector of the surgical instrument disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion, and wherein at least a portion of the lower clutch is disposed between the plate and the lever in a direction parallel to the lever axis. 
 
     
     
       7. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the plate. 
     
     
       8. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate via four keys. 
     
     
       9. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower clutch includes a key, they key being used to key the lower clutch to the knob and also being used to key the lower clutch to the plate. 
     
     
       10. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 6 , further including a drive element, a shaft of the drive element defining a shaft axis and extending through an aperture of the plate. 
     
     
       11. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 10 , further including an articulation shaft disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive element, wherein rotation of the drive element about the shaft axis causes longitudinal translation of the articulation shaft. 
     
     
       12. The articulation mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to prevent rotation between the lower clutch and the plate during articulation of the end effector with respect to the elongated portion.